Seminar
Cultural studies and intercultural communication

In today’s world, various social developments create more and more intercultural situations. People from different cultures interact on a daily basis, at work or in private life. Such intercultural encounters don’t always lead to understanding and harmony. Sometimes, difficulties or even conflicts arise. In order to act appropriately in an intercultural setting, you need intercultural competency. Intercultural competency is not a single skill, but it also includes teamwork, tolerance, open-mindedness, theoretical knowledge about other cultures, empathy, respect and appreciation, reflection on both self and the other, sensitivity, and language skills. You need these skills in order to avoid conflict in your communication with people from other cultures and to adapt to life in your new home.

• Cultural knowledge about Germany
• Reflection on your own culture
• Self-perception and outside perception
• Intercultural differences: values, norms, cultural standards
• Typical sources of conflict: direct and indirect communication, object and person orientation, building relationships in private and professional life
• Social skills: effective communication (e.g. communication and cooperation in international teams), preventing intercultural conflicts
• Identify cultural conflict areas and resolve issues with cultural sensitivity
• Culture shock and how to handle it
• Pitfalls of nonverbal communication
• Dealing with prejudice and stereotypes
• Enhance your own awareness- practice assuming a different perspective